William p



(No Model.)

W. P. 'BENHAM.

VELOGIPEDE. No. 310,776. Patented Jan. 13, 1885.

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XVILLIAM P. BENHAM, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE POPE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 310,776, dated J'anuary 13, 1885.

(N0 model.)

To (1% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. BENT-LAM, of Hartford, Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to those parts of velocipedes, whether of bicycles or tricycles, called steering-heads and handle-bars, and the'attachments of the same. The nature of them will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the drawings, in which Figure 1 shows in front elevation and part section a velocipede-steeringhead and part of a handle-bar embodying my improvements in one form. Fig. 2 shows the same in a vertical section on the line 00 x in Fig. 1, the dotted line y y in Fig. 2 showing a line of section at right angles to that in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows, on a smaller scale, and in elevation, the same devices with a handle-bar. Fig. 4 shows similar contrivances to those represented in Fig. 1, with certain modifications of my improvements, which will be herein described.

A is a cylindrical steering-head of a bicycle.

a is the open or internal slot in which the spindle-bearing or steering-centers may be operated.

a is the threaded aperture in the top of the head for the set-screw which adjusts the steering centers.

B is a handle-bar, which may be either solid or tubular, and which I prefer to make of one continuous bar or rod, to the extremities of which are attached the handles 13*, and to the 1 middle of which I attach or form upon it the through it at right angles to the vertical axial line of the steeringhead, which I make of just sufficient breadth to allow of the introtion, as shown anddescribed, the sleeve-nuts v C C may be placed upon the handle-bar B, one upon either end, and are movable toward the middle or detent, D. The handle-bar with these sleeve-nuts upon it may be brought in d, and the handle-bar pass into the slot d, and the handle-bar B correctly located as to its length and other points of position, and then the nut C on either side the lug may be brought up and screwed onto the projection b to form a secure fastening device to hold the handle-bar rigidly in position. Again, by unscrewing the sleeve-nut on either side of the lug E the handlebar may be easily removed.

Fig. 4: shows certain modifications of this plan. Instead of the projection 12 of the lug E upon the sleeve-nut C, when it is in position, I have the projection b which surrounds a portion of the sleeve-nut C, and instead of having the threaded portion of the lug to engage with the internal thread of the nut C, I have the threaded portion 12 of or upon the handle-bar B to engage with an internal thread in the sleeve-nut C. I show the nut C as prepared for operation by the hand instead of a wrench. This construction shows substantially the same parts and operates substantially in the same way, although the sleeve-nut forms a lock on the inside of the projection of the lug instead of on the outside. In either form the objects of my improvements are obtained viz., a secure and detachable handle-bar in one continuous piece, easily and securely fixed in position, whether front of and hard toward the middle of the lug E, so that the detent D shall engage in the slot the bar be solid or hollow, curved, or straight. bined with sleeve-nuts for retaining the han- It is obvious that other modifications in form may be made without departing from my lnvention, and I do not Wish to be limited 5 strictly to the forms shown.

I claim as new and of my invention 1. The combination of an undivided bar, and an open-slotted lug, and two sleeve-nuts, or their equivalents, one on either side the :0 lug, surrounding the bar and adapted to lock it rigidly to the lug, essentially as set forth.

2. The, described improvement in handlebar lugs for velocipede-steering heads, conslsting in an open slot, d, between the two 5 jaws e e of the lug, for admission of a-continuous handle-bar, and projections b b, or their equivalents adapted to receive and be comdle-bar securely in place and for allowing it to be removed, essentially as set forth.

3. In combination with the handle-bar B, the detent D, constructed and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, in a velocipede, of lug E, having jaws e 6, slots d d d, and projections b b, or their equivalents, a continuous handle-bar, B, detent D, and sleeve-nuts O 0, or their equivalents, essentially as set forth.

\VILLIAM P. BENHAM.

Witnesses:

F. E. BELDEN, D. J. PosT. 

